Hydrocarbon burner



F. H. SCHULENBERG.

Y HYDROCARBON BURNER. APPLICATION FILED APH.5.1920. AENEWED JAN. 24.|922.

194.1 1,749, Patent-,6.1 Apr. 4, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

se A @2M E I artorucyjf.

F. H. SCHULENBERG.

HYDROCARBON BURNER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5, 1920. RENEWED IAN. 24, |922. LM IJMQ.Paten-@ved Apr. I, 1922 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 UNITED srA'rEs PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK H. SCHULENBERG, 0F LIMA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE VAIO STOVECOMPANY, 0F LIMA, OHIO.

Application led April 5, 1920, Serial No. 371,391. Renewed January 24,1922. Serial No. 531,510.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FREDERICK H. SCHU- LENBERG, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Lima, in the county of Allen, State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydrocarbon Burners; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of. the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

This invention relates to hydrocarbon burners of that class in which thehydrocarbon is volatilized in an open trough and has then added totheresultant gas, the atmospheric oxygen to effect its combustion.

.In burners of this type with which I am familiar, the addition ofatmosphere to the hydrocarbon gas, is eiiected in such manner and atsuch rate as to c ool the gas or produce such a mixture, adverse eitherwith respect to its proportions or liomogenity as results in suchincomplete combustion as is uneconomical and is fui-ther objectionableby reasons of odors and carbon deposits.

It is the object of the present invention primarily to produce a burnerin which the temperature of the gas of volatilization of the carbon,will continuously rise in temperature while having contributed to itsuccessive charges of atmospheric oxygen, so that free carbon will notresult and the maximum heat from the fuel will be obtained. This primeobjective is accomplished by such form and arrangement of parts asensures the rising of the as through a zone of continually increasingtemperature and further ensures successively higher temperatures to thecharges of air that are successively added to the rising gas. Thisparticular arrangement not only provides against arresting the risingtemperature of the gas but also ensures the addition of atmosphere atsuch temperature and in such quantity at each point of admission, asresults in a homogeneous mixture at that point. It willthus be clearlyunderstood that if the gas gradually increases in temperature and thereis added to it successive charges of atmosphere at successive points ofits zone of movement, then, if the added atmosphere has the propertemperature and is in proper quantity, there will be so nearly `completecombustion as section on line 4 4 of Figure 1, through the air feedinghead of the burner.

Figure 5 is a'detail perspective view of the air feed head ofthe burnervwith its cupola, the air feeding cap being removed. A Figure 6 is adetail perspective view showing the ring that constitutes the base'ofthe air feeding head, and showing one of the stepped lugs that serves tohold the head in axial alinement with its base.

Figure 7 is a vertical section illustrati-ng a modiication of the airfeeding head.

Referring now to the drawings, in the embodiment of the inventionillustrated, there is shown a cylindrical base v10 having radiatingHanges 11 through the medium of which it may be secured in operativeposition and from which base 10 there projects also a radial flange 12.The upper edge of the base l() is rabbeted as shown at 13 to lreceivethe lower edge of a frusto-conical casing 14 upon which is disposed afiat ring plate 15 having adepending annular flange 16 that 4lits withinthev casing 14 and holds the ring plate against lateral displacement. Asecond ring plate 17 is disposed above and in axial alinement with thering plate .15, the casing 14 andthe base 10Y and has at its outermargin a plurality of depending lugs 18, the inner corners of which arenotched as shown at 19 to receive corresponding portions of theperiphery of the ring plate 15, thus to hold the ring plate 17 in thesaid axial alinement. It will be noted that the mutually adjacent facesof the ring plates 15 and 17 are inwardly divergent, while the upperface of the ring plate 17 is inclined slightly toward its axis.

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

. f The radial flange 12 of the base 10 has i short of the ring plate 15with the resu tant air passage 28, while the interiorv diameter formedat its inner edge, an upwardly openingV U-shaped, annular trough 20 andthrough the flange directly adjacent the trough and at intervals of theflange, are formed inlet air openings 21 that permit air to rise intothe air feed chamber between the trough 2() and the base 10.

The outer side of the trough 20 is higher than the inner side, and bothof them are parallel with the wall of the base 10. An oil Yfeed pipe 22provided with a control valve 23, extends through the base 10 and isscrewed through a boss 24 on the outer wall\ of the trough 20 andcommunicates with the trough. v

The outer wall of the trough 20 is rabbeted at its upper edge as shownaft 26, to receive a frusto-conical wall-27, the upper minor end ofwhich terminates sli h-tly of this upper minor end of the frusto-conicalwall 27 is the same as the inner diameter of the ring 15. A successionof annular series of slots 29 are formed through the wall 27 and thematerial about each of the slots is pressed outwardly of 'the wall asillustrated, to provide outwardly directed hps 30 between which inpractice, air passes to the combustion chamber A from the air feedchamber B as hereinafter particularly described.

The inner surface of the inner or lower wall of the trough 20 is alsorabbeted, as shown at 31 and receives the lower end of a secondfrusto-conical wall 32 that is spaced from the wall 27 and provides thecombustion chamber A just referred to. The wall 32 has a longitudinalsuccession of annular series of slots 33', similar in all respects tothe slots 29 having at their edges the lips 34 that correspond to thelips 30 but which, instead of being directed away from the combustionchamber, are directed into it.

Upon the inner frusto-conical wall 32'is disposed a ring plate or disk34 having a central opening 44 and having notched lugs 35 depending fromit at intervals of its outer edge and` in which notches 36 the top edgeof the wall 32 is received. These lugs 35 hold the 4ring plate 34against lateral displacement "from the wall 32 and also in spacedrelation to its upper edge to provide an annular succession of airpassages 37 between the plate and wall.

The plate 34 constitutes the bottom of a dome-shaped head 38, the bottomedge of which rests in the notches 39 of lugs 40 projecting upwardlyfrom the plate 34a adja cent its outer edge and which lugs serve notonly to hold the dome and the plate 34 against lateral displacement withrespect t0 each other, but to hold them in spaced relation to provide anannular series of air passages .41, it being noted that the said airpassages 41 are in a plane below the up er edge of the wall 27.Extending lateriilly through the wall of the dome 38 and in the plane ofthe ring plate 15, is a circumscribing series of perforations 42. whichit will be noted communicate with the central opening 43 of the ringplate 15 and are directed toward the inner periphery of the rin plate.The dome continues ta ering throug i the central opening 45 of t e upperring plate 17, where it is provided with a cupola 46 communicating withit and which cupola ein its side wall has a circumscribing series ofslots 47 and in its top a central opening 51. About the cupola andresting'upon the dome which constitutes the air feeding head of theburner, there is disposed an air feeding cap comprising the verticallspaced plates 48 and 49 `having the air c amber 50 between them. Theplates 48 and 49 are unconnected at their inner peripheries sovthatthere is afforded free communication of the slots,

and the chamber A being filled with thel flame, to which air is fed fromthe outer circumscribing chamber B and the inner air chamber C, whichlatter is defined by the wall 32. The flame within the combustionchamber A serves to heat the trough 20 and all parts sustained thereby,this priming fuel being supplied in quantities sufllcient to establishthat temperature which will effect volatilization of kerosene or'similar heavy hydrocarbon that is subsequently admitted to the trough 20through the pipe 22.

Upon initial volatilization of the operating fuel, it of course ignitesfrom the flame from the priming fluid.

It will of course be understood that the highest temperature of theburner is at'its top, the temperature gradually decreasing to thetrough. Thus, as the fuel gas rises through the y chamber, A, itstempera-'ture gradually increases and it continues to increase intemperature as it passes through the entire burner. During this upwardmovement of the gas, air is fed to-it through the slots 33, the airentering the gas in flat, horizontal, thin sheets so as to effect anintimate mixture. As the metal of the wall 32 increases in temperaturetoward its upper end, the upward succession of air sheets increases intemperature so that the air supplied to the gas rises in temperatureasdoes the gas and 1t does not reduce the temperature of the gas. Theprojection of the lips 34 into the combustion'chamber A causes theadjacent portion of the column of rising gas to move comparativelyslowly over lthe wall, thus to absorb a maximum of heat units.Additional air enters the combustion chamber A from the air feed'chambenB, through the slots 29 and the lips 30 serve to ensure suchmovement of the .air over the outer surface of the wall 27 as effects amaximum absorption of heat units from the wall. Thus, the air, which isadmitted from the chamber in thin horizontal sheets, is raised to suchtemperature as not to cool the gas, theupward succession of air sheetsadmitted, increasing in temperature from the increasing temperature ofthe wall, to correspond to the increasing temperature of the passage 28;then additional air is suppliedthrough the perforations 42 from thedome; then further air is supplied from between the ring plates 15 and17, after which the gas strikes the bottom ring plate 49 of the v capand in its passage around the outer periphery of the cap, has furtherair supplied from the chamber 50 between the outer edges of the ringplates 48 and 49. The cap deliects the fiaming gas outwardly while someof the flaming gas curls inwardly over the cap and this latter portionis supplied with air through the opening 51 of the cupola 46.

With this succession of air charges, the air is added to the gas only atsuch intervals and in such quantity and with such temperature as willensure its absorption by the. gas

Without cooling of the gas and consequentprecipitation of carbon. Theresult is complete combustion with high economy of fuel.

Referring' now to Figure 7 of the drawings, there is shown amodification of air feeding head that may be substituted for the dome38. This modified air feeding head consists of an invertedfrusto-conical body 38 which is disposed on the lugs 40 of the bottomplate 34 corresponding to the plate 34a in Figure 1. Through the wall ofthe body 38 is formed a longitudinal succession of annular series ofspaced slits 55 having the. lips 56 directed outwardly of the wall aboveand below the slits so that the air that enters the head through thecentral opening 44 of the bottom plate 34', will be directed radiatinglyfrom the head in thin horizontal sheets. The air feeding head 38includes also a top plate 57 having depending lugs 58 at its outer edgeportion that are notched as shown at 59 to receive the upper edge of thewall .of the head and which hold the plate 57 in spaced relation to.said upper edge to provide an annular series by the lintegral posts64that connect them at intervalsy `of their )outer'marginal portions.

lrVithin the enclosure of the wall of the head 38 is a hollow invertedfrusto-conical choking baille 65, the opening in the lower Vminor end ofwhich is in axial alinement with the opening 44 and spaced upwardlytherefrom. Through the wall of the baille are formed perforations 66 andcentrally from its solid top 67, there rises astem 68 that is passedthrough a central opening 69 of the cupola 61 and is held by a nut 70.Lugs 71 that depend from the plate 57, contact with the upper surface ofthe top plate 67 and hold the baille against rocking movement.

In the use ofthe modified construction, it will be noted that it extendsmaterially above the top ring plate 17 when positioned upon the wall 32in place of the structure illustrated in Figure 1. The flame in itspassage to and through the central openings of the ring plates 15 and17, has air supplied through the corresponding slits 55, which air hasentered the head through the opening 44. Further air is supplied throughthe upper slits 55 to the gas above the plate 17 and also from the airchamber 63 between the outer edges of the ring plates 48 and 49 of thecap.

A part of the air that rises through the opening 44 passes directly tothe wall of the head 38 and out through the slits 55, while theremainder rises into the baille 65 where it is held sufficiently long tobe superheated and then passes out through the perforations 66 and joinsthe first named quantity of air to raise its temperature to the desiredpoint prior'to its passage to the gas outside of the air feeding head.This baffle serves also to highlyheat the air that passes around it andover it to the cupola, whence it passes through the cap to join the gasat the outer edge of the latter.

In the actual and extended use of the invention, it is found that thecombustion is absolute, so far as any appreciable residue is concerned,so that toasting and broiling is permitted over the open flame.Furthermore, therevis found to be a most economical use of fuel. As theseparate parts are removably assembled, the trough -20 may be ex sedreadily for removal of any residue tiat may accumulate.

It will be noted that the inner air chamber C is tapered upwardly sothat the air when it expands as a result of the gradually increasingtemperature as it rises in the chamber, must vent itself through theslits, The taper of this chamber and the number and size of the slits issuch that the air asses from the slits well across the comliustionchamber, thus to e'ect an eicient mixture.

It will be noted also that the lips on the inner wall of the combustionchamber. by projecting into ,the combustion chamber. will absorb heatfrom t-he burning gas and radiate it to the air sheets or streams thatass inwardly through the slits, thus insurlng such temperatures to theseair sheets or streams, sufficiently high as to ensure against cooling ofthe gas', with the advantages previously referred to.

lVhat is claimed is:

l. A hydrocarbon burner comprising an open topped fuel container,concentric horizontally continuous spaced walls disposed to receivebetween them gas of volati-lzation from fuel in the container, a headdisposed upon the inner wall and communicating with the interior thereofand having air passages directed outwardly over the wall, and platesabove the outer wall spaced apart with a resultant air passage openingoutwardly over the outer wall and inwardly toward the head, and a capsupported upon the head and having` an air passage therethroughcommunicating inwardly with the head and disposed to direct airoutwardly above said plates. l

2. A hydrocarbon burner comprising an open topped fuel container,concentric horizontally continuous spaced walls disposed to receivebetween them gas of volatilization from fuel in the container, a headdisposed upon the inner air passages directed outwardly over the wall,and plates above the outer wall spaced apart lwith a resultant airpassage opening outwardly over the outer wall and inwardly toward thehead, and a cap supported upon the head and having an air passagetherethrough communieating inwardly with the head and disposed to directair outwardly above said plates,

the head having a top orifice, opening above the cap.

3. A hydrocarbon burner comprising an `.annular open topped fuelcontainer, concentric frusto-conical perforated walls sustained upon andformin continuatlons of the inner and outer wal s of the fuel' coning acentral top o ening and openings in' its side wall, a ollow capencircling the cupola and communicating therewith through its Wallopenings, Ythe cap having outer peripheral -openings for passage of airtherefrom, and spaced ring plates supported upon the outerfrusto-conical wall, the ring plates encircling and being spaced fromthe dome.

4. A hydrocarbon burner comprising au annular open topped fuelcontainer, concentric frusto-conical perforated walls sustained upon andformin continuations of the inner and outer wal s of the fuel container,respectively, the inner wall having an enclosed air chamber, a platedisposed upon the inner wall in spaced relation to its upper edge with aresultant air passage and having a cent-ral opening through it, a domesupported .upon the plate in spaced relation to it with resultant airassages and having perforations through 1ts wall above the plate, acupola upon, the dome having a central top opening` and openings in itsside wall, a hollow cap encircling the cupola and communicatingtherewith through its wall openings, the cap having outer peripheralopenings for assage of air therefrom, and spaced ring p ates suplportedupon the outer frusto-conical wall, t e ring plates encirclin and beingspaced from the dome, the

yper orations of the dome being in the plane of the lowermost ring plateand the cap being above the uppermost of the ring plates.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

FREDERICK H. SCHULENBFPG.

